Mount volleyball will need youngsters to step up

The graduation of the Class of 2012 a few months back has left the Mount St. Joseph Academy volleyball team with holes to fill all around the court. Among those who departed were super libero Regina Trabosh (daughter of sixth-year head coach George Trabosh), who is now playing for Temple University, and dangerous outside hitter Kasey Cannon, who went on to Washington & Lee University in Virginia.

The Magic also graduated a second outside attacker, a middle hitter, and a setter from a franchise that went 15-5 overall in 2011 and finished second in the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies. The Mounties split their two head-to-head bouts with champion St. Basil’s, but the Panthers ran the table in the rest of the league while the Magic remained one game back in the win column due to a loss to Gwynedd Mercy Academy early in the season.

Coming back for the Mount this year are just four players who were on the 2011 varsity throughout the fall, although several others swung up from JV later in the season.

The senior co-captains are outside hitter Maddy Good and setter Marissa McBride. Junior Moira Mulholland is a formidable force on the outside, and sophomore Sarah Thomas, the only freshman to become a full-time varsity player last year, brings six-foot stature to the middle of the front row.

Most of the other athletes on the roster were members of the JV squad last year, although some got some varsity experience. Aside from the captains, the seniors are setter Gwyn Kieffer, outside Meaghan Kiernan, defensive specialist Dominique Pacitti, and versatile utility player Kiki Saraceni.

Among the juniors are setter Sam Eberle and the Zakrzewski twins, Caroline (outside), and Elizabeth (right side). Sophomore Monica DeIenno is a defensive specialist, and freshman Alexandra Uzzo could swing up to contribute in some varsity matches.

As usual, the Mount should see heated competition right within its own league, thanks to teams like Basil’s, Gwynedd, and longtime power Villa Maria. The Magic swept the Villa Hurricanes last season, but had to go to a fifth game to nail down the second of those victories.